Defining and non-defining relative clauses

DEfining and Non-Defining relative clauses

introduction

Relative clauses add extra information to a sentence by defining a noun or to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about. This is only necessary if there is more than one person involved.

Defining relative clauses

Provide some additional information that is not essential and may be omitted without affecting the contents of the sentence.

non-Defining relative clauses

Give us essential information that tells us wo or what we are talking about.

E.g. These are the flights that have been cancelled.

E.g. The artist, whose songs are quite popular, has a powerful voice.

Defining relative clause

Reference to

TIME

THINGS

POSSESSIVES

PLACES

PEOPLE

WHOSE

WHERE

WHEN

WHICH

WHO

THAT

Non-Defining relative clause

Reference to

TIME

THINGS

REASON

PLACES

PEOPLE

WHICH

WHEN

SUBJECT

WHO

WHO, WHOM

OBJECT

WHICH

WHERE

WHY

POSSESSIVE

WHOSE, OF WHICH

WHOSE

WHO / THAT

WE CAN USE WHO OR THAT TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE. THAT IS MORE COMMON AND A BIT MORE INFORMAL. SHE'S THE WOMAN WHO CUTS MY HAIR. HE'S THE MAN THAT I MET AT THE CONFERENCE.

WHICH / THAT

WE CAN USE WHICH OR THAT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS. THAT IS MORE COMMON AND A BIT MORE INFORMAL. THERE WAS A ONE-YEAR GUARANTEE WHICH CAME WITH THE TV. THE LAPTOP THAT I BOUGHT LAST WEEK HAS STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE!

OTHER PRONOUNS

WHEN CAN REFER TO A TIME. SUMMER IS THE SEASON WHEN I'M HAPPIEr. WHERE CAN REFER TO A PLACE. THAT'S THE STADIUM WHERE ARSENAL PLAY. WHOSE REFERS TO THE PERSON THAT SOMETHING BELONGS TO. HE'S A MUSICIAN WHOSE ALBUMS HAVE revolutionised.

Sometimes we can leave out the relative pronoun. For example, we can usually leave out WHO, WHICH, or THAT if it is followed by a subject.- The assistant THAT we met was really kind. (we = subject, can omit THAT) We can't usually leave it out if it is followed by a verb. - The assistant THAT HELPED us was really kind. (helped = verb, can't omit THAT)

OMITTING THE RELATIVE PRONOUN

differet uses

Defining and non-defining relative clauses

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